US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel came to Poland on a two-day trip to discuss bilateral military cooperation and partner-like relations in the field of security with senior Polish officials.

"The security of Poland and of this part of Europe in the 21st century depends on support from and presence of the United States," Poland’s defense minister Tomasz Siemoniak said after talks with Hagel Thursday.

Siemoniak, also said "we highly assessed the state of our existing military cooperation. First of all - brotherhood of arms in Afghanistan based on acting hand in hand by our soldiers. But also - common exercises of Air Force with participation of US soldiers permanently present in Poland within Aviation Detachment."

Hagel said that the US was still firmly committed to deploy elements of the anti-missile shield in Poland. Missile interceptors are scheduled for installation in Poland in 2018 as part of the multinational effort.

The US secretary also met Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who said that the Polish government appreciated the presence of a US Air Force sub-unit in Lask in central Poland and Polish-US cooperation in Afghanistan.

Hagel will also meet with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and PM Donald Tusk on Friday.